Darian Cruz is going all-in on Los Angeles. The Pennsylvania Regional Training Center announced today that Cruz will step down from his role as assistant wrestling coach at the University of Pennsylvania and devote himself full time to training at the PRTC as he builds toward the 2028 Olympic Games.

For the Philadelphia wrestling community, it's the clearest signal yet of what this city has become: a place where a world-level athlete can chase an Olympic medal without leaving town. Cruz — one of the best freestyle wrestlers on the planet at 57 kilograms — will keep doing it right here, with Puerto Rico's third Olympic wrestling medal as the target.

Two jobs, one standard

For the past two seasons, Cruz has pulled off a rare double: shaping Penn Wrestling's rise from Matt Valenti's corner while competing at the highest levels of international wrestling. Inside the Penn room he became a trusted mentor — a hand in athlete development, recruiting, daily training, and match preparation, and a builder of the championship culture that has produced NCAA qualifiers, All-Americans, and nationally ranked wrestlers.

"Darian has proven time and again that he belongs on the world's biggest stages," said Valenti. "While his presence on our Penn Wrestling staff will be missed, his full-time transition from the coaching staff to the PRTC sets the stage for an incredible run. We are thrilled to back him completely as he locks his sights on the 2028 Olympic Games."

A world-class resume, still climbing

Representing Puerto Rico, Cruz earned silver at the 2026 Pan American Championships and has competed at multiple Senior World Championship events — including the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where he wrestled for a bronze medal. He has faced the world's top-ranked athletes across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with consistent success on the United World Wrestling circuit.

Before the international chapter, Cruz put together one of the most accomplished collegiate careers in the country at Lehigh: an NCAA championship, three All-American honors, four NCAA appearances, and three EIWA titles — a run that stamps him among the greatest wrestlers in Lehigh history.

And for the last two years he has been one of the PRTC's leaders and ambassadors, representing the room around the globe.

"Gold in LA"

"I'm so honored to represent Penn, the PRTC, and Philly Wrestling on the global stage as we aim for Gold in LA in 2028," said Cruz. "A huge thank you to Matt Valenti and the PRTC Board for giving me the chance to be part of such an amazing group, train with the best, and most importantly, create a culture that fuels everything we do. I'm really looking forward to what we've already accomplished and excited about what we'll keep building as we prepare for LA."

PRTC President Nick Matteo called the move a win on every front.

"Having Darian remain in Philadelphia and join the PRTC as a full-time athlete is a major win for both the PRTC and Penn Wrestling," said Matteo. "Darian is both a world class person and a world class athlete. We are proud to support him as he commits to training for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles."

The bigger picture

This is exactly what the PRTC was built for — giving elite athletes the resources, coaching, and training environment to compete for World and Olympic medals, in the middle of a city that keeps producing wrestlers. With Los Angeles on the horizon, one of the world's best at 57 kilograms will be preparing for the biggest stage in sport on Market Street.

Philly will be watching in 2028. This is Philly Wrestling.